ADVANCING A DISTRICT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 233, 1 October 1910, Page 8

ADVANCING A DISTRICT.

■ MT. ALBERT'S NEEDS. A IJVEL-Y MEETING. The progress of the Mt. Albert district has rendered necessary a good deal of expenditure on roads, and patching up of the. roads within the .-district has for a long time drained the resources of the Road Board. Realising that some permanent scheme was necessary, members of the Road Board propose, with the consent of the ratepayers, raising a loan of £30,000. While the Chairman of the Road Board (Mr. M. J. Coyle) and two memhers were in Wellington last month, on Road Board matters, arrangements for this loan were made, and last night a statutory meeting in connection with this was held in St. Luke's Hall, Mt. Roskill, at which about 150 ratepayers attended. The allocations of the proposed loan were read as follow: — (1)' Extension of water supply and construction of new reservoir, £9230; (Information and kerbing and channelling ot New North-road from Dominion-road to proposed tramways terminus at Morningside. £5700; (3) formation and kerbing and channelling of New North-road in connection with proposed overneaa railway bridge; at Morningside crossing. £2000; (4) contribution to New Zealand railways as part cost of altering line at above crossing at j Morningside. £700; (5) formation and kerb-1 ing and channelling of Kiugsland-road, from New North-road to junction with the Edendale-road £4665; (6) formation work in Mountain-road, £875; (7) formation work, Onehunga-Mt. Albert-road, £160° : (8) sewer connections with Archhill Gully sewer, £400: (9) various -footpaths and sundry formation. work, £1000: (10) con- ■ tingencies, engineering, etc., £3830. The proposed .'security ; offered' is a special rate of one-halfpenny in the £1 on the present capital value of all ratable properties in the district, covering interest and sinking fund, payable in 73 equal half-yearly instalments. Mr. Coyle presided, and explained that the Board had gone carefully into the matter, and while recognising that something should be done for the advancement of the district, it was yet desired to keep the rates down. Mr. Coyle then read a statement, signed fey all the members of the Board, in which they pledged themselves to support the loan, which they considered was in the best interests of the district. At the same time they pledged themselves to confine the ordinary expenditure within the limits of the present revenue, and not to increase the rating beyond the present amount, so far as regarded the interest and sinking fund on the proposed loan. Continuing, the Chairman said that the present rating was 1 3-Bd, and it was felt that they could raise the loan without increasing the rates, as the first year's interest would come, out of the loan. It was necessary, before raising the loan, to strike a Id rate, on the present valuation of the district, 'but their valuations were increasing, and during the last six months building valuations had alone increased £30,000, so that when they could show the Government that the rate was not necessary, they wjould be allowed to lower it. 'The chairman then dealt on the terms of the loan, which is to be for 36A years, and opened the meeting for questions. Mrs Kerr-Taylor: When the money was borrowed to go on the Main-road all the rates were supposed to be spent, on the by-roads. Now you are wanting to borrow money to spend on the byroads. Where are the rates? The Chairman: I would ask any lad.\ or gentleman asking questions to stick to the matter in hand. Mrs Taylor: Oh, that's all right. Chairman: Anyone reading the advertisement will see that no money to be borrowed is for by-roads. We are borrow, ing £1,000 to spend on tarring and sanding the footpaths in the whole district. Mrs Taylor: Another thing. Are wo to pay for the good time ycrn three members had at Wellington? (Laughter.) Chairman: Yes, Mrs Taylor, you will have the pleasure of paying your share. In answer to a ratepayer," the Chairman said that the 1 3-Sd rate wogld be exactly what the ratepayers were paying to-day. Their income was £1.000 greater to-day than last year. They were to pay the first year's" interest out of tne borrowed money, and the capital value of the district was increasing by £70,000 to £100,000 each year. ° " Continuing, the chairman said: "Tv placing the matter before you, and in making the rate 1 3-Sd, we are makino- it very fine, but we maintain it can be done and we must keep within our income] This year, roughly, we are spending from general revenue something about £2300. and in 1911 we have only arranged to spend £1000. and we must not increase it, and will not if we can help it. It is extra valuation in the district that is going to pay for the loan money. Perhaps last year ratepayers were paving £500 valuation, this year £700 or £800. We have lowered the 'general rate. There is a possibility, and 1 think it right to tell you here, of the district being formed into a borough, so this- is possibly the last opportunity of discussing rate board matters. The Beard has not taken any active part as regards the borough Mrs. Taylor: Oh! Chairman: Well, I don't want to mislead you. I am not against the scheme, jbut think it is premature. It won't do j the district any harm. Mrs. Taylor: Oh! Chairman: Well, it won't if you put I members in to sign a paper as we have | done. We pledge our reputation that i the work will be done. I Mrs. Taylor: You say the members of this Board pledge themselves when they are not certain that any one of them will be on the board next year. Chairman: Then our responsibility ceases. Mrs. Taylor: Oh! then you pledge the whole district. Discussion followed on the method of voting if the proposals were put to a vote. Some ratepayers thought that the proposals should not be put as a block | proposal, as wanted by the Board. The Chairman: You must consider Ithat the members of the Board are big i property holders, and are going to safe°- ', guard their interests. I, for one, don't ;want to pay big rates. I Mrs. Taylor: Oh, you don't pay much j rates. (Laughter.) I Discussion then went on to the method |of voting for the money, and after a 1 considerable time the clerk pointed out that under the statute it was necessary to raise the loan as a block proposal. The Chairman: I would very much like to see this loan carried, but if the ratepayers don't want it then that's an end to the matter, but you won't have your rates decreased. Mrs. Taylor: You haven't informed mc what you have done with the rates. What have you done with the rates? j' Chairman: Spent them in Wellington. (Laughter.) A Ratepayer: What about St. Luke'sroad. I think something should be spent on St. Lukes-road. You are likely to break your neck there. Mrs. Taylor: Oh, they aren't likely to break their necks there, or else Mr. Coyle would mvve broken, his long ago.

Numerous ratepayers then spoke in support of the proposal to raise the loan, and finally a motion, to the effect that the meeting was in favour of the loan and wished the matter brought to a poll, was carried, there being only one dissentient voice.